The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv comes from clone 337. This is a rather earthy style for a Schrader wine, with less drama and flamboyance, but great fruit, a more meaty, dusty style with underbrush as well as blackcurrants, with spicy oak. It’s dense, full-bodied and promises to age nicely for 20 more years.
After the remarkable performance of the 2012s, I would be hard-pressed to believe that Schrader could equal or eclipse that vintage, but they seem to have certainly equaled the quality of the 2012s. The 2013s are slightly more coiled and more tightly knit and with probably greater definition. That said, they all possess fabulous concentration and palate presence. Any of these will make a spectacular elixir/vinous treat to serve and consume over the next 25-30+ years. First-time readers may need to do a little research, but this is essentially a clonal study with micro-blends from the famous Oakville vineyard, the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, and more recently, a look at several other vineyards – the Beckstoffer George III Vineyard in Rutherford and the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard. Essentially, all of the wines are treated identically – aged in mostly Darnajou with some Taransaud barrels, they tend to always come in around 14.5%-14.7% natural alcohol, spend 20 months in all new oak and are bottled unfiltered. Since the beginning, they have been made by none other than the famed Napa consultant, Thomas Rivers Brown.
The wines are more similar than dissimilar, but I’ll do my best to catalog the subtle differences that can be found. However, at this pinnacle of quality, they are few and far between. Production ranges from a low of 110 cases for the Colesworthy and 186 cases for the George III, to as much as 608 cases for the RBS and 650 cases for the LPV. Tel. (707) 942-1540; www.schradercellars.com
Wine Spectator 2015 (95 Punkte) JG 2012
Notably elegant, with complex aromas of rich dark berry, shaded by dusty dried herb and cedar notes, all supported by firm, fine-grained tannins. Gains depth and persistence, gliding along on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2032. 110 cases made. –JL
Vinous Antonio Galloni 2014 (92 Punkte) JG 2012
Schrader's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is laced with blueberry jam, cassis, new leather, cloves and violets. Most of the site's inherent minerality has been baked out, either by the vintage or by some of the farming/winemaking choices, and what comes through is a very ripe, oaky Las Piedras with relatively soft contours and plenty of near term appeal. As good as the 2012 is, I am not sure what the point is of making a wine like this in Las Piedras. In fact, Schrader's Las Piedras is one of the least site-specific wines from this vineyard I have tasted. I would give the 2012 a few years to lose some of its baby fat and see what happens.
